Dr. Karen Donfried on the transatlantic relationship and its post-Trump future

Dr. Karen Donfried, President of the German Marshall Fund and former Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council, joins Brussels Sprouts to offer her perspective on the current state of transatlantic relations, reflect on this year’s Brussels Forum, and discuss takeaways from her time at the Obama White House.

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Julie Smith and Jim Townsend sit down for a bookend episode of Brussels Sprouts to look back on previous episodes and what they’ve learned from them. They also take the time to reflect on Julie’s time at CNAS as she sets out for Berlin and how her commitments to and ambitions in the transatlantic relationship evolved over her career.

Sophia Besch of the Center for European Reform joins Jim Townsend to discuss the shifting internal dynamics in Germany and what they mean for U.S.-German relations, defense spending, and how President Trump is changing things.

LTG (R) Ben Hodges, the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss his recent piece advocating against permanently basing U.S. troops in Poland, his time commanding United States Army Europe, the current health of the U.S.-German relationship, and prospects for NATO flotilla in the Black Sea.

The 2018 NATO Summit is one of the most anticipated events in transatlantic relations this year. Seven European embassy defense representatives join Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to offer their countries’ perspectives and expectations for the Summit as it quickly approaches.

The 2018 NATO Summit is just over the horizon but much remains uncertain and the transatlantic relationship is being tested. To give us a better grasp on what to expect in July, Julie Smith and Jim Townsend sat down with three former U.S. Permanent Representatives to NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Ambassador Doug Lute, and Ambassador Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow.

Lord Paddy Ashdown, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, sits down with Julie Smith to discuss his thoughts on the damage done to the transatlantic relationship and gives us an update on the Balkans and Brexit.

In the run up to this year’s NATO Summit, the current NATO Permanent Representatives from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingom discuss what we can expect in Brussels, what binds NATO members together, and their experiences as women in national security.

Dr. Brad Roberts, the Director for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, joins Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss NATO’s nuclear deterrence capabilities, the space domain, and the North Korean nuclear issue.

Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, Director of the German Marshal Fund's Paris Office, sits down with Brussels Sprouts to discuss Macron, Merkel, and the future of transatlantic relations after Trump's withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Edvinas Kerza, Vice Minister of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, sits down with Julie Smith and Rachel Rizzo to discuss the country's new cyber report, evolving threats in cyber space, information warfare, and the new cyber rapid response project proposed by Lithuania as part of PESCO.

Christian Mölling, Deputy Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the German perspective on President Macron’s and Chancellor Merkel’s recent visits to Washington, the evolution of European security initiatives, and the future of German leadership.

Danish Minister of Finance Kristian Jensen discusses the uncertain future of TTIP, the Danish decision to increase defense spending, the challenge of Nord Stream 2 to European security, and his belief in continued transatlantic values.

French Ambassador to the United States Gérard Araud discusses what we should expect from President Macron’s upcoming visit to Washington, the European perspective on the Iran deal, and the challenging global questions of today that Europe and the US need to answer together.

Norwegian Deputy Minister of Defense Tone Skogen joins with CNAS experts Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss challenges in the North Atlantic, the new NATO Command Structures, and her experience navigating a career as a woman in Norwegian national security.

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser sits down with CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow Jim Townsend to discuss his recent visit to Washington DC with the other Baltic Foreign Ministers and Baltic Presidents. He touches on the challenging and changing security situation facing his country, as well as the value of NATO to Estonia.

Dr. Karen Donfried, President of the German Marshall Fund and former Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council, joins Brussels Sprouts to offer her perspective on the current state of transatlantic relations, reflect on this year’s Brussels Forum, and discuss takeaways from her time at the Obama White House.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius, sits down with CNAS’ Jim Townsend to discuss his recent visit to Washington, Baltic security concerns, and takes the time to reflect on Lithuania’s inspiring journey to NATO membership.

Peter Potman, Director of the Asia and Oceania Department at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joins Julie Smith and Dr. Dan Kliman of CNAS to discuss the Dutch and broader European assessment of China’s growing global influence, how Europe should respond to Beijing’s ambitions, and potential opportunities for transatlantic coordination on China.

French Director General for International Relations and Strategy Philippe Errera joins Brussels Sprouts to outline the French approach to the upcoming NATO summit and the burden sharing debate. They explore the leadership of President Macron in shaping French military capabilities and European security strategy, including PESCO and his European Intervention Initiative.